Chris Harrison blogs 'Bachelor Pad' episode 2

After week one’s epic three-hour event, week two started off with the same gusto. With things changing so much the competitions have become huge this season. The only safe place to be sitting during elimination is with a rose. This week’s competition was rough to watch. It was interesting how it opened up a lot of issues in the house, and also within certain individuals.

Melissa and Michael won the competition and each of them won dates where they were able to take three others with them. Could their dates have been any more different and could they have gone any different? Michael and his crew went to an old haunted hospital here in LA while Melissa and the boys got to go yachting. The big story on Michael’s date was obviously his choosing his ex-fiancée Holly to join him. I found it amazing to watch how mature the two of them were together in what must have been a very difficult situation. Look at the difference between the way they acted compared to the way Vienna and Jake are when they’re together. Michael gave Holly the rose so they could finally talk alone about their feelings. What transpired on the roof was one of the most moving scenes I’ve ever witnessed on any of our shows. That conversation was so real so raw and so emotional it moved them both to tears. I was incredibly impressed with both of them and just how open and honest they were with each other.

As mature and emotional as Michael’s date was, Melissa’s date was exactly the opposite. The big question to come out of this date is how far will people go to win the money? What are you willing to do and what is okay to do in the name of the “game,” Blake made the decision to form an alliance with Melissa on this date, but the only way to do that and get the rose was to lead her on. In your mind, was this crossing the line of decency or is all fair in love and war? Blake and Holly had an instant connection in the house and they are starting to explore just what that is, but obviously this doesn’t create and awkward love triangle – it creates a horribly awkward love square! This will play out in the coming weeks because obviously when there’s this much pressure something or someone (Melissa) is bound to blow.

Bachelor Pad is not for the weak at heart, and Gia – who should’ve learned this during the last go around – got another very good lesson this week. Gia went to Graham to try to break up the power couple Kasey and Vienna. Ironically if she had done this when she had the power last week, it would’ve never been an issue and none of this would’ve ever happened. Graham’s allegiance is clearly with Kasey so he went directly to Kasey and spilled the beans. Maybe out of arrogance or ignorance, Kasey let Gia know that Graham had told him everything and that she was now a sitting duck. Gia got caught in the middle – and as Alli discovered last week when you’re in the middle you’re alone and dead in Bachelor Pad. Gia got flustered and felt betrayed and decided she has had about enough of Bachelor Pad life… until next summer that is. I along with the other houseguests was surprised to see Gia get so upset she left. But like she said in the limo she was probably going home so instead of giving Kasey the pleasure of shoving her off the cliff, she decided to jump.

One of the great things about Bachelor Pad is things can change on a dime and this week I’m the one that dropped the bomb. Kasey and Vienna and the others in their alliance thought they had it all figured out. It was interesting to watch their reactions when I pulled the rug out from under them and announced that two women would be going home this week. Vienna immediately got emotional and asked everybody to stage a walkout – no seriously, she really did. She assumed she had so much power and sympathy that everybody would give up a shot at a quarter of a million dollars because she wasn’t happy with the twist in the game. Shockingly this attempt at a coup didn’t quite work out and they all decided to stay. When I was talking to the group this week Vienna made the statement that she was forced to be on TV and that we were forcing her to be in the house with Jake. I did my best flight attendant impersonation and promptly showed her the exits and told her to feel free to use them. This will not be the last time I tell the guests of Bachelor Pad that they are free to leave any time they want.

Once cooler heads prevailed and everybody decided to stay the vote for one more woman began and so did the backstabbing and betrayal. Kasey looked Ames and Jackie in the eye and told them they had nothing to worry about and that Jackie would be safe. The tough thing about being the self-proclaimed king is you have to make tough decisions and sacrifices. After making his promise to Jackie, Ella changed everything by making an alliance with Kirk. That was a smart move that saved her this week. Because of that alliance, Kasey was forced to change his vote and stab Jackie and Ames in the back. Kasey brought up a great question to himself in one of his interviews: When there’s money on the line do you do what’s right, or do you go for the money? His answer was go for the money.

Ames and Jackie quickly found each other on Bachelor Pad and fell hard for one another. When Jackie got voted out I felt bad for them because I really wanted them to spend more time together and see where this relationship could take them. Then Ames pulled a move and an exit that only Ames could pull. In a grand gesture of love and commitment Ames left the game and left the money and chased down Jackie in the limo to give love a chance. So, Kasey in answer to your question, Ames would most definitely say doing the right thing is far more important than the money. As Ames said that was the happiest limo exit in Bachelor history.

As you can clearly see alliances have been formed but that can change quickly in this house and the only person you can really trust is yourself. Jake is fighting for his survival and continually trying to bury the hatchet with Kasey and Vienna. Kasey and Vienna are continually trying to bury the hatchet in Jakes’ back and plotting his demise. Something’s gotta give here and it most certainly will. One final note this week I’d like to apologize to the houseguests for our lax security this year. Apparently any old masked man could just walk in off the street and into the house. I guess it’s true what they say to make an omelet you have to break a few colored eggs. We have a lot of great stuff for you on our web site thebachelor.tv and I will always continue to fill you in on all things bachelor via twitter @chrisbharrison.

I end this week’s blog on a very sad note. Our thoughts and prayers are with our friend Michelle Money and her family whose loving father Scott Cartwright lost his long brave battle against colon cancer. As you saw in last week’s episode the two of them had an extraordinarily strong bond. He meant the world to her and will be missed beyond measure. Michelle, your entire Bachelor family is thinking about you and know that we are all here for you. I have a friend battling rectal cancer right now. In light of all this news, gentlemen I urge you to get tested and don’t be embarrassed or ashamed to go in if you think something might be wrong. Ladies, urge the men in your life to ask questions and get tested, early detection can make such a difference.